Page 48 of Sunsets and Happy Ever Afters

CHAPTER 24

Once they were settled at their table, Heather turned to Maya. “So, Maya, Sam says you’re seeing someone…”

Maya was caught totally off guard. Why would Sam tell Heather about her seeing someone? She hadn’t gone into much detail about Pierce. It was early days.

“Yes, yes… I met him online. I’ve not been seeing him long,” Maya said, drinking her Prosecco more quickly than intended. Luckily, Sam had returned to the bar to stand with Tom, deep in conversation with Joe. A glass of Prosecco down, Maya was relaxed enough to tell Heather about Pierce.

“I set Sam up online,” Heather said, lowering her voice. Maya wondered if Heather was supposed to be sharing this piece of information. Sam hadn’t mentioned anything about being interested in dating.

“Which site?”

“Oh, I can’t remember now. I want him to get himself out there.” Heather had already finished her glass and poured another, topping Maya’s glass up as well. Maya couldn’t help thinking that Heather could give Emma a run for her money in the Prosecco drinking stakes.

“Testing, testing, testing…” One of the band members stood at the mics, doing the sound check. Maya knew it wouldn’t be long before the band started up and they wouldn’t be able to hear one another properly. The pub had filled up with people too.

“I’m not sure how he’s getting on; he tells me nothing,” Heather said, leaning into Maya.

“I think it does take time. It’s a great idea, but unfortunately, there are some who abuse it.” Maya told Heather about the dick pic guy and some of her other disasters, which set them off in a fit of giggles.

Suddenly serious, Heather looked at Maya earnestly. “I don’t want Sam leaving it until it’s too late. Jade wouldn’t have wanted him to live life alone. I put him on there, and nag him regularly, because I want him to find someone before he gets too old.”

“I heard that!” Sam said, giving Heather a stern look. The men sat down at the table, placing their half-drunk pints before them. Sam took a seat on the other side of Maya.

Heather whispered behind her hand to Maya, “And before he loses his looks.”

Maya glanced at Sam. Would he lose his looks? Not if you went by his dad. Charles was still attractive, for a man in his seventies. She quite liked the laughter lines and flecks of grey in Sam’s dark hair. He wasn’t quite as salt and peppered as George Clooney, but he carried an air of maturity.

“That’s my fear too. I’m worried that everything will start falling south when I turn forty.”

“You’re stunning. You have nothing to worry about.” Heather clinked her glass against Maya’s. “But I do get where you’re coming from. It’s all right for men. They haven’t subjected their bodies to pregnancy and childbirth. Tom is the only person I would allow to see me naked — or a doctor in an emergency! I don’t envy women trying to find love again.”

Maya remained silent, nervously sipping her Prosecco. Fortunately, more people arrived, and Maya was introduced to them. She shook hands with Tristan, who Sam explained was their cousin, and certainly didn’t act like Lord of The Manor — whyhadsheexpectedhimtolooklikeHughBonneville? He was obviously younger than Sam and Joe. Heather insisted Beth, Tristan’s girlfriend, joined them, pouring her a glass of bubbly.

The band started up, playing a mix of well-known covers, old and new, and it was hard to keep up the conversation. Maya sipped her Prosecco, feeling almost relieved that she didn’t have to discuss any more of her dating antics with Heather, although she was intrigued to hear more about Sam being on an online dating site. She now wondered which one.

As Maya listened to the music, she reflected that she didn’t envy anyone trying online dating either, but what choice did she have? It seemed to be the thing to do these days. At her age, would someone cross her path naturally? Life was too busy. And when she did go out, it was usually tagging along with her married friends on a girls’ night out. This didn’t really help attract the opposite sex — only the weirdos. And to make matters worse, if her married friends couldn’t see the guy was a jerk, they’d encourage him, or try to set Maya up with someone else at the bar. On those nights, she’d seriously contemplated wearing her wedding ring.

This weekend, seeing Tom and Heather happy had emphasised how much Maya missed the intimacy of a close relationship. One day, it would be lovely to go out as a couple again with Emma and Lucas. She even allowed herself to fantasise about them meeting Pierce. Would he be compatible with them?

Suddenly, she pictured Sam as her date instead. Maybe she needed to delve further with Heather, and find out the site Sam’s profile was on, so that she could check it out…

Maya gave herself a mental shake, realising she’d tuned out of the band playing.

Online dating was a good thing. It was just something you had to be patient with. And who knew, if it went well with Pierce, she could say goodbye to it. Thinking of Pierce, of how he made her feel, made butterflies flip in her stomach — she wanted that again. She quickly checked her phone. One message. Disappointment quelled the butterflies. Emma was wishing her a Happy Easter and checking she was having a wonderful break. Maya smiled and texted her quickly back, still not mentioning that she was with Sam’s family.

“Everything okay?” Sam asked, leaning into her ear so she could hear him over the music. Maya could feel his breath on the sensitive skin below her ear. It gave her goosebumps at the back of her neck, travelling down her arms.

She tilted her head to talk to him and caught the smell of his aftershave. She almost forgot what he had asked her. “Yes, Emma texted me. I replied that I’m alive and well.”

Sam nodded as she spoke. Her mouth was inches away from his neck, and she suddenly wondered what his skin would feel like against her lips, with the roughness of the traces of stubble emerging along his jawline. Then she thought of Pierce. Maybe that was what she was missing, and being next to Sam made her ache for that affection, that touch from a man, which Pierce had ignited in her again. She’d feared she’d lost any sex drive she’d had, but Pierce had proved it was still there.

“Good. I was worried you might not be enjoying yourself.”

Maya shook her head and smiled at him. “No, this if great. Thanks for inviting me out.”

Smiling back, he placed an arm on her shoulder as he got up, gently squeezing. A friendly gesture — a sign of being relaxed in each other’s company. For a moment, Maya felt an overwhelming sense of security. Sam checked the bottle in the ice bucket. It was empty, so he asked if Heather wanted another. She gave two big thumbs-up. Maya watched Sam go to the bar, bottle and empty pint glasses in hand.

No doubt about it, Sam was attractive and interesting to talk to… But he was her daughter’s best friend’s dad.

---